planning on a custom cage, for BP

[Kesosip]

I was thinking of making a nice cage for my ball python, I was thinking of going all out on it and thought you all could offer some input on my plans. Im not exactly sure on the over all size yet though.

i was planing on framing it similer to a house with studs not 2X4s thoughl then using foam insulation and plastic to seal it, then plywood for the inside and outside walls. adding 2 vents 1 up near the top on the warm side and one near the bottom on the cool side to circulate air.

the interior floor will be glass and the exterior floor ply wood with a door to acsess the UTH,

Im thinking if I can get it fairly insulated I wont have problems with heating and by placeing linolium (spelling lol?) on the walls and sealing them with silocone It should maintain humidity fairly well. This is looking like a long term project though.

how does this sound? any ideas on what i can use to insulate it to help so exterior heat wont effect the temp inside so much? what i mean is i want the UTH and heat lamps to be the only things that effect the tempeture inside the encloser.

[mr~python]

ive build a custom enclosure and i can say from experience that you dont want to make a custom enclosure for your BP. you're much better off going with tubs.

[Kesosip]

please let me know the challanges of a custom cage, as far as i know humidity is a huge factor but im thinking that with covering the interior wall with plastic over the studs and insilation, then plywood then linolium should help with humidity. I know this thing sounds like it might be to big for a ball python but the interior of the cage is going to be around either that of a 40 or 50 gallon but with more floor space height.

after bathrooms hold humidity very will ours is a swamp lol.

[invadertoast]

I built one out of 3/4" plywood with swinging 1/4" plexi doors on the front. I sealed the inside with 4-5 coats of polyurethane and covered the floor with linolem tiles. Then I sealed all the edges with silicone. I left about a 1/4" gap around the doors for ventilation, as well as a drilled a couple holes in the top. I'm using a heat panel screwed to the ceiling for heat, and it's working great! It holds heat and humidity very well.

Here's a picture shortly after it was finished:

[Ginevive]

Wow, that cage is SWEET! That is the type we want to build.. much better looking than any old rubbermaid.

[invadertoast]

Here's an updated picture -



It looks much nicer when the plants stay where they're supposed to be, but whatever, lol. I love this cage, I figured I've had Eleanor for nearly 5 years and I plan on having her for the rest of her life, she might as well have a nice cage, both for her and for me to look at

Also, I used some kind of outdoor deck stain, I think 2 coats outside and 4 inside plus the poly and silicone.

[Ginevive]

That IS sweet I like the skull on top too, what's that?
I really want to build something that's both great for the snakes, and nice to look at. Working on getting a table saw for now.

[invadertoast]

I'm pretty sure it's a cow skull, it has a bullet hole in the forehead. I bought it at a flea market with intentions of painting it, but I still haven't gotten around to it. It was perfect when I bought it, but my sister's dog found it and chewed one of the eyesockets out

I'm lucky, my cousin married a carpenter. I asked him to help me with a cage and one day there was this big cabinet sitting in my driveway! My mom's boyfriend and I stained it and put on the front trim and doors.

[Liquid Snake 06]

invadertoast i love your cage setup. im planning on making a custom cage too. with a jungle look to it. i plan on goin all out on the cage. but yours looks frickin sweet! you should build more and sell em.

[Leon]

invadertoast i love your cage setup. im planning on making a custom cage too. with a jungle look to it. i plan on goin all out on the cage. but yours looks frickin sweet! you should build more and sell em.

Keep in mind, the more you put in the more you'll have to clean.